A comparison of incidence of injury and recovery profiles of intercollegiate women basketball players sustaining anterior cruciate ligament ruptures

摘要

Injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in women basketball players have come under recent scrutiny as it has become apparent that women athletes sustain more ACL injuries than their male counterparts. The purposes of this study were to examine (a) the effectiveness of intervention techniques in relation to sport return rates among women basketball players, (b) the effectiveness of injury prevention tactics in limiting anterior cruciate ligament injury rates, and (c) differences in these factors among NCAA Divisions I, II, and III;Data were collected from certified athletic trainers at forty-eight institutions across the nation. Representation was equally spread among each of the NCAA divisions and four separate geographical regions. Information regarding team and individual injury profiles was obtained for the past six basketball seasons (1990-91 through 1995-96). A total of 81 athletes at the represented institutions sustained ACL injuries during the period;Findings indicated that surgical intervention was the most important factor in allowing an athlete to return to her previous level of activity. Neither previous injury nor concomitant injury affected an athlete\u27s ability to return to activity. No statistical differences in injury rates or recovery profiles were found among the three NCAA divisions. Prevention tactics, including routine pre-season and in-season strength training, pre-season strength screening, and inclusion of technique modification showed no correlation to reducing injury rates.